Nation

'Regina sounded happy to be on island'

Nothing suspicious: Regina was happy to be on a short holiday trip to Pulau Rawa, says a relative.

JOHOR BARU: Estonian model Regina Soosalu, whose body was found along a beach in Pulau Rawa on July 1, was happy to holiday on the island, her family said.

A relative said the last time they spoke to her was over the phone on June 27.

“Regina spoke to her mother and she sounded happy that day.

“She told us about her trip to Pulau Rawa and said she was happy to go there for a short holiday,” a close relative from Estonia, who declined to give his name, said when contacted via e-mail, yesterday.

He said the family was devastated when they heard of her death and were hoping to get her body back to Estonia as soon as possible.

The police have detained seven people for questioning in connection with the death of the woman, who was initially thought to have drowned.

There were, however, wounds on her body that led the police to believe it is a murder case.

Among those detained was her boyfriend Tunku Alang Reza Tunku Ibrahim, who is reportedly linked to the Johor royal family.

Regina’s relative said her family back home in Estonia were trying their best to “keep together” as several questions had surfaced relating to her death.

The relative said they were grateful to officials at the Estonian embassy in Beijing for regularly updating them on the case.

“We are also grateful to Regina’s friends who have sent messages and made calls to the family after hearing of her death,” he said.

Johor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Hasnan Hassan, when contacted, said there has been no further arrests and those detained were still being questioned.